Abdur Rahman Biswas

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Abdur Rahman Biswas
আবদুর রহমান বিশ্বাস
10th President of Bangladesh
In office
10 October 1991 – 9 October 1996
Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia
Muhammad Habibur Rahman (acting)
Sheikh Hasina
Preceded byShahabuddin Ahmed (acting)
Succeeded byShahabuddin Ahmed
6th Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad
In office
5 April 1991 – 25 September 1991
DeputySheikh Razzak Ali
Preceded byShamsul Huda Chowdhury
Succeeded bySheikh Razzak Ali
Personal details
Born(1926-09-01)1 September 1926
Bakerganj, Bengal, British India (now Barisal, Bangladesh)[1]
Died3 November 2017(2017-11-03) (aged 91)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting placeBanani graveyard, Dhaka
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party
SpouseHosne Ara Rahman (?–2017; her death)
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka

Abdur Rahman Biswas (1 September 1926 – 3 November 2017) was a Bangladeshi politician. He was the President of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996. Biswas represented Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly prior to the independence of Bangladesh.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Biswas was born in Shaistabad village, Barisal District.[2] He was educated at the University of Dhaka, where he received BA with honours and an MA in history and a degree in law.[3] His subsequent public service included chairing a local cooperative bank and sponsoring educational initiatives.[1] He joined the legal profession in the 1950s. He was elected president of the Barisal Bar Association twice in the 1970s and worked as a Supreme Court lawyer.[4]

Career[edit]

Biswas started his political career when he joined the Muslim League during Ayub Khan's regime. He was elected as a representative to the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly in 1962 and 1965.[4] In 1967, he represented Pakistan at the UN General Assembly.[1] He became chairman of Barisal Municipality in 1977. He became a member of parliament in the 1979 Bangladeshi general election.[1] He served as minister of textiles and jute under the cabinet of President Ziaur Rahman, and later as health minister under President Abdus Sattar. He served as a vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[4] He elected as a member of parliament in the 1991 election and soon after got selected as the Speaker of the Parliament.[5] He became Bangladesh's 16th president on 10 September the same year.[4]

For most of his tenure as president, Biswas spent his time reading and meeting dignitaries including Nobel laureate physicist Abdus Salam, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad.[3] As head of the Caretaker government of Bangladesh, however, he faced challenges from the military and political instability in the country.[1][6] In 1992, Biswas did not make Abdul Hasib a permanent judge of the High Court Division after he had served two years as an additional judge.[7][8]

February 1996 election[edit]

See also: February 1996 Bangladeshi general election

From mid-1994, clashes between the BNP backed Jatioabadi Chhatra Dal and Awami League backed Bangladesh Chhatra League led to increasing violence in the form of bomb and arson attacks on party bureaus, newspaper offices and government buildings.[6] In the midst of violence, the opposition led by the Awami League's Sheikh Hasina, pledged to boycott national elections scheduled for 15 February 1996. When Khaleda Zia's BNP was re-elected for the second term in that election, it was boycotted and denounced by the three main opposition parties.[6] On 26 March, in the face of increasing opposition, the newly elected parliament enacted the thirteenth constitutional amendment bill paving the way for the appointment of an interim caretaker government.[6]

June 1996 election[edit]

See also: June 1996 Bangladeshi general election

On 28 March 1996, Biswas signed the Caretaker Government bill into law, which was welcomed by human rights organisations.[6] As a result, Biswas dissolved the newly elected legislature and, as Khaleda Zia stepped down, while appointed former Chief Justice Habibur Rahman was appointed as chief adviser to head an interim government that was poised to preside over fresh national elections on 12 June 1996.[6]

1996 coup[edit]

Main article: 1996 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt

On 19 May 1996, Biswas, as head of a caretaker government, ordered the army chief Lieutenant General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim to force the retirement of Major-General Morshed Khan, commander of Bogra Cantonment, and Brigadier Miron Hamidur Rahman, deputy chief of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles.[6][9] Both officers had issued statements expressing dissatisfaction with the country's situation.[10] The President believed that they were involved in political activities with opposition parties. Nasim refused to comply. The next day, Biswas sacked him and sent soldiers to control the state radio and television stations. On noon that day, Nasim ordered soldiers of Bogra, Jessore and Mymensingh divisions to march towards Dhaka.[11] The Ninth Infantry Division's Major General Imamuzzaman, who commanded the division located closest to Dhaka, remained loyal to the President. He directed the removal of all boats and ferries from Jamuna River in Aricha port, so that Bogra and Jessore divisions could not cross the river.[12]

Biswas sent a contingent of troops with tanks to blockade the Dhaka-Mymenshing highway.[13] This prevented Mymensingh Division Army from entering Dhaka. In the meantime, Major General Mohammad Anwar Hossain, General Officer Commanding of the 33rd Infantry Division located in Comilla, also came to the aid of the president. He mobilised a fully geared 101 Infantry Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Shah Ikram (later Major General) to Dhaka to fortify Bangabhaban, the presidential palace.[14] The 33rd Division was deployed, using an Infantry Battalion and a company of tanks from the 7th Horse Armoured Battalion at the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, to create a blockade against the 24th Infantry Division located in Chittagong.[2] The government broadcast announcements asking all soldiers to stay at their own cantonment. After some hours, Mymensingh Division soldiers returned to their barracks.[14] The Chittagong Division never mobilised towards Dhaka. The General Officer Commanding of the Chittagong Division realised that the military coup was highly unlikely to succeed.[3] That night Nasim was interviewed by the BBC and, in reference to troop movements, he said that as Army Chief, he could move troops anytime he wanted.[14] Nasim was arrested by the Brigade Commander of 14 Independent Engineers Brigade and put under house arrest in the Army Mess behind Army Central Library, Staff road, Dhaka Cantonment.[13] Later the Awami League government, which was elected to power in 1996, granted him a formal retirement.[13] Biswas later recalled the events as his "most memorable experience."[3] He stepped down as president on 9 October 1996 and was succeeded by Shahabuddin Ahmed.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Biswas was married to Hosne Ara Rahman (1934 – 17 June 2017)[15] a cousin of politician Rashed Khan Menon.[4] Together they had five sons Monu Biswas, Ehteshamul Haque Nasim (12 November 1960 - 12 March 1998), Shamsuddoza Kamal Biswas, Jamilur Rahman Shibli Biswas, and Muidur Rahman Romel Biswas, and two daughters Akhi Biswas and Rakhi Biswas.[4][16][17]

Later life[edit]

After the end of his presidency, Biswas retired permanently from politics.[18] In 2006, during the unfolding crisis, Biswas's house in Barisal was set on fire by Awami League activists.[19]

Biswas died on 3 November 2017 at United Hospital, Dhaka from respiratory problems, aged 91.[20][21][22] He was buried in Banani Graveyard on 4 November.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Abdur Rahman Biswas". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ^ a b c "Former Presidents". Bangabhaban. Office of the President of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Honourable President Abdur Rahman Biswas". Bangabhaban. Office of the President of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Former Bangladesh president Abdur Rahman Biswas dies at 91". bdnews24.com. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  5. ^ Liton, Shakhawat. "Khaleda follows in BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's footsteps". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Bangladesh Political Violence on All Sides". Human Rights Watch. 8 (6). 1 June 1996. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. ^ Bangladesh, State of Human Rights, 1991: A Report. Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh. 1992.
  8. ^ Hāsānaujjāmāna (1992). An Uncertain Beginning: Perspectives on Parliamentary Democracy in Bangladesh. Naya Prokash. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-81-85421-11-7.
  9. ^ "Dhaka Faces Revolt". The Moscow Times. 21 May 1996. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  10. ^ Ali, M. M. "Shaikh Hasina Takes Over From Khalida Zia in Successful Bangladesh Election". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. American Educational Trust. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  11. ^ Dahlburg, John-Thor (21 May 1996). "Bangladeshi President Fires Army Chief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Bangladesh Tense After Army Chief's Firing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "Bangladesh ex-army chief arrested". United Press International. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "Bangladesh's Army Chief Fire d". Chicago Tribune. 20 May 1996. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Former president Abdur Rahman Biswas's wife passes away – Bangladesh News Gazette". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Ex-president Abdur Rahman Biswas dies". Prothom Alo. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Ex-president Biswas passes away". The Daily Star. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  18. ^ "B Chy, Dr Kamal call for action against corruption". The Daily Star. 25 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  19. ^ "12 killed in Bangladesh clashes". Aljazeera. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  20. ^ "President Abdur Rahman Biswas Dies at 91". Dhaka Tribune. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  21. ^ "President Abdur Rahman Biswas Dies at 91". bdnews24.com. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Former President Abdur Rahman Biswas passes away". Bangladesh Sangbad Sagstha. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Abdur Rahman Biswas laid to rest". Banglanews24.com. 4 November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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